Plymouth’s 1970 model-year lineup: from Duster to Superbird

Plymouth’s 1970 lineup spanned compact A-body Valiant and the new Duster, the newly independent E-body Barracuda and ’Cuda (including the one-year AAR ’Cuda), the B-body Satellite family with Road Runner, GTX and the Superbird, and the full-size C-body Fury range (Fury I/II/III, Sport Fury and Sport Fury GT), plus intermediate and full-size station wagons. Below is a detailed breakdown of every model and where it fit in the portfolio, along with key engines and notable one-year specials.

How Plymouth structured its 1970 portfolio

The 1970 model year was pivotal for Plymouth. The Barracuda moved to its own E-body platform, the Duster coupe debuted as a Valiant-based fastback, and the brand leaned into performance with ’Cuda, Road Runner, GTX, the Trans-Am-inspired AAR ’Cuda, and the NASCAR-homologation Superbird. Meanwhile, the Fury line anchored full-size offerings, and Satellite became Plymouth’s core intermediate after the Belvedere name was dropped in the U.S.

Compact cars (A-body): Valiant and Duster

Plymouth’s compact lineup emphasized value and new style, with the established Valiant joined by the all-new Duster fastback coupe—initially marketed as part of the Valiant family but effectively its own body style.

• Valiant (base and Custom) — 2-door and 4-door sedans; engines included the 198 and 225 cu in Slant-6 and the 318 cu in V8; practical, budget-friendly transportation with straightforward trim and options.
• Duster — new fastback coupe spun from the Valiant; offered with Slant-6 or 318 V8; positioned for youthful style and affordability.
• Duster 340 — the performance version with the 340 cu in small-block, upgraded suspension, graphics/trim packages and available 4-speed manual.

Together, Valiant and Duster covered the compact market from thrifty commuter to punchy small-block performer, helping Plymouth capture younger buyers without abandoning value seekers.

Pony cars (E-body): Barracuda and ’Cuda

For 1970, the Barracuda broke free from its compact roots and arrived on the new E-body platform, sharing fundamentals with Dodge Challenger but with distinct styling and trims. This brought broader engines, sport suspensions, and focused performance variants.

• Barracuda — hardtop and convertible; available as base or Gran Coupe; engines ranged from the 225 cu in Slant-6 (availability varied) and 318 V8 to big-block options like the 383.
• ’Cuda — the performance series; offered with 340, 383, 440 4-bbl, 440 Six Barrel (three two-barrel carburetors) and the 426 Hemi; shaker hood and heavy-duty driveline options available.
• AAR ’Cuda — one-year, Trans-Am-inspired special with 340 Six Barrel, side-exit exhaust, fiberglass hood with fresh-air scoop, unique suspension and stripes.

The new E-body transformed Plymouth’s pony-car appeal, from an accessible Barracuda convertible to track-leaning AAR ’Cuda and fire-breathing Hemi ’Cuda coupes.

Intermediates (B-body): Satellite, Road Runner, GTX, Superbird

Plymouth’s B-body range centered on Satellite as the mainstream line, with Road Runner and GTX covering performance from brash value to upscale muscle. The NASCAR-derived Superbird served as a halo car and homologation special.

• Satellite — the core intermediate line in sedan, hardtop, convertible and wagon forms; trims included Satellite, Satellite Custom and Sport Satellite; engines typically spanned 225 Slant-6, 318 and 383 V8s.
• Road Runner — coupe, hardtop and rare convertible; standard 383 V8 with optional 440 Six Barrel and 426 Hemi; known for its “beep-beep” horn and cartoon badging.
• GTX — upscale performance hardtop; standard 440 4-bbl with optional 440 Six Barrel and 426 Hemi; more luxury and refinement than Road Runner. (Convertible ended after 1969.)
• Superbird — aerodynamic, winged, Road Runner–based special built primarily for NASCAR homologation; engines included 440 4-bbl, 440 Six Barrel and 426 Hemi; approximately 1,900–1,950 produced.

Across trims, the B-body lineup balanced family-friendly models with some of the era’s most iconic muscle cars, capped by the dramatic one-year-only Superbird.

Full-size (C-body): Fury I, II, III, Sport Fury and Sport Fury GT

Plymouth’s full-size C-body cars offered broad choice in size, comfort and power, from fleet-ready sedans to plush cruisers and a genuine big-car performance flagship.

• Fury I, Fury II, Fury III — sedans and hardtops aimed at value, family and fleet buyers; engines typically included 318, 383 and optional 440 V8s.
• Sport Fury — hardtop and convertible with premium trim, comfort features and broad V8 availability.
• Sport Fury GT — performance-oriented flagship with 440 4-bbl standard; a very limited 440 Six Barrel option was offered, making GTs with the “+6” exceedingly rare.

The Fury range anchored Plymouth’s presence in America’s full-size market, offering everything from basic transportation to high-speed interstate cruisers.

Station wagons

Plymouth fielded wagons in intermediate and full-size segments, serving families and utility buyers with two- and three-row configurations and a range of trims.

• Intermediate (Satellite-based) wagons — Satellite Wagon, Satellite Custom Wagon and the upscale Satellite Regent; typically offered 2- or 3-seat configurations and V8 power.
• Full-size (Fury-based) wagons — Suburban, Custom Suburban and Sport Suburban; shared powertrains with Fury sedans and offered generous cargo and towing capacity.
• Note on compacts — No Valiant/Duster compact wagon in the U.S. lineup for 1970.

These wagons extended Plymouth’s appeal to family and fleet buyers, pairing spacious interiors with the brand’s mainstream engines and options.

Powertrains and notable options

Across body lines, Plymouth offered a familiar but wide-ranging engine roster, along with transmissions and performance packages that defined the brand’s late-’60s/early-’70s identity.

• Slant-6: 198 cu in (primarily A-body) and 225 cu in for economy and durability.
• Small-block V8s: 318 (bread-and-butter), 340 (high-performance, as in Duster 340 and base ’Cuda).
• Big-blocks: 383 (widespread in B/E bodies), 440 4-bbl (GTX, Sport Fury GT, optional on several lines), 440 Six Barrel (’Cuda, Road Runner/GTX, rare in Sport Fury GT).
• 426 Hemi: top-tier performance in ’Cuda, Road Runner and GTX.
• Transmissions and performance gear: 3-speed and 4-speed manuals (Hurst pistol-grip available), Torqueflite 3-speed automatic, Sure-Grip limited-slip differential, heavy-duty suspensions and brakes, Air Grabber and Shaker hood systems, and axle ratio/“Track Pak” options.

This mix let buyers tailor cars from thrifty commuters to drag-strip specials, with factory parts that have since become collectibles in their own right.

What changed for 1970

The model year brought several strategic shifts and one-year-only highlights that make 1970 distinctive in Plymouth history.

• Barracuda moved to the new E-body, separating it from Valiant and enabling bigger engines and dedicated performance trims.
• Duster debuted on the A-body as a stylish, affordable fastback coupe; the Duster 340 quickly became a performance favorite.
• AAR ’Cuda and Superbird were one-year specialty models tied to racing programs (Trans-Am and NASCAR, respectively).
• Belvedere name was dropped from the U.S. intermediate line; Satellite became the core B-body family.
• VIP (full-size luxury trim) was discontinued after 1969, simplifying the Fury hierarchy.
• 1970 marked the final year for the Road Runner convertible.

These changes modernized the lineup, sharpened Plymouth’s performance image and set the stage for the increasingly regulated early 1970s.

Summary

In 1970, Plymouth fielded a broad, performance-forward lineup: Valiant and the new Duster covered the compact market; Barracuda/’Cuda (with AAR ’Cuda) defined the new E-body pony-car push; Satellite, Road Runner, GTX and the Superbird anchored the intermediates; and Fury I/II/III, Sport Fury and Sport Fury GT delivered full-size capability. With engines ranging from thrifty Slant-6s to 440 Six Barrel and 426 Hemi power, Plymouth’s 1970 range remains one of the brand’s most celebrated model years. Availability and naming could vary by market and mid-year changes, but the core portfolio above represents the U.S. lineup as sold for 1970.

What was the Plymouth lineup in 1968?

Select a 1968 Plymouth Model

• 1968 Barracuda.
• 1968 Barracuda Formula S.
• 1968 Belvedere.
• 1968 Fury I.
• 1968 Fury II.
• 1968 Fury III.
• 1968 GTX.
• 1968 Road Runner.

What models did Plymouth make?

Plymouth models included:

• Plymouth Model 30U (1930)
• Plymouth Acclaim (1989–1995)
• Plymouth Arrow (1976–1980, rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste)
• Plymouth Arrow Truck (1979–1982, rebadged Mitsubishi Forte)
• Plymouth Barracuda (1964–1974)
• Plymouth Belvedere (1954–1970)
• Plymouth Breeze (1996–2000)

What cars did Plymouth make in 1970?

Plymouth

• 1970 Plymouth. AAR Cuda.
• 1970 Plymouth. Cuda Convertible.
• 1970 Plymouth. Hemi Cuda.
• 1970 Plymouth. Superbird.
• 1970 Plymouth. Superbird.
• 1971 Plymouth. Cuda.
• 1971 Plymouth. GTX.
• 1971 Plymouth. Road Runner.

What cars did Plymouth make in 1972?

The primary 1972 Plymouth car models were the Barracuda (including the performance-oriented Cuda), the sporty Duster and Scamp, the mid-size Satellite (including the Road Runner), and the larger full-size Fury (with sub-models like the Gran Fury). Plymouth also offered a subcompact model, the Cricket.
 
Performance Cars

• Barracuda & Cuda: The high-performance muscle car line, which included different engine options and sporty trim packages. 
• Duster: A popular compact model, often equipped with a V8 engine and available in a performance version called the Road Runner. 
• Scamp: A small coupe, similar to the Duster but with a different focus on style rather than outright performance. 

Mid-Size Cars 

• Satellite: Opens in new tabA line of mid-size cars, including various body styles like 2-door hardtops, sedans, and station wagons.
• Road Runner: Opens in new tabA trim level and model for the Satellite, focusing on performance within the mid-size segment.

Full-Size Cars 

• Fury: This line included various models such as Fury I, Fury II, Fury III, and the more luxurious Gran Fury, available in different body styles.

Other Models 

• Cricket: A small, subcompact sedan in the Plymouth lineup.